Less Alcohol - FEBRUARY 2021 - One Day At A Time
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I have kind of an AF patteren going on now-
Sunday 2 beers
Monday AF
Tuesday 2 beers
Wednesday planning AF
Did some one ask for chili sauce recipe?? LOL yes it is Coney Island style
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
2 cups water
½ cup diced onion
⅓ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon celery salt
1 pinch cayenne pepper
Directions DO NOT BROWN GROUND MEAT
Step 1
Combine ground beef, water, 1/2 cup diced onion, ketchup, butter, garlic, chili powder, salt, black pepper, cumin, celery salt, and cayenne pepper together in a pot. Mix with a potato masher or spatula over medium-high heat until mixture has a finely ground consistency and begins to bubble, about 10 minutes.
Step 2
Bring beef mixture to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and reduces, about 2 hours. Season with salt and pepper to taste.5 -
Great idea with the mineral water and lime... looks and feels like an alcohol drink, but isn’t! I do something similar in a wine glass.39 continuously AF days, although for about 20 had Covid so was too ill for alcohol:) I am trying to make it until May 2. Having some AF and some drinking days has not worked for me in the past 15 years so trying something new, maybe eventually can be a once a month treat. Having lots of tea and mineral water with lime...looks like a G&T! Hardest part is I don't feel quite like myself anymore, anyone else experience anything like that when quitting or cutting back?
As for feeling not quite like yourself... I can’t say I’ve experienced that, but I posit that maybe you have a different persona when drinking (more outgoing, more introverted, whatever it is). When you cut back, you are meeting your true self, perhaps for the first time in a long time. If that’s the case, what a wonderful opportunity to think about and express who you truly are!
Physically, I felt better because after a few days AF, I slept through the night. I wasn’t grumpy or headachy the next day. I was refreshed and full of energy. And my skin looked amazing! So that’s another way that you may not quite feel like yourself!
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I got so much out of everyone’s posts today, thank you all for sharing your thoughts!!!!
AF tonight after imbibing last night. I didn’t even want it, which was a nice change! Haha!4 -
Racking up another AF evening. DH had a bottle of wine and a couple of bourbon & 7ups.
This might be my last AF this week as I'm making plans for Thurs-Sat that include a drink or two. We'll see how I feel about it each night and take them one at a time.
Goal: Limit 1-2 glasses per day; 12-16 AF days per month
Days 1-10 comparisons at the beginning of recent months
FEBRUARY = 6 drinks = 7AF
JANUARY = 14 drinks = 1 AF
DECEMBER = 21 drinks = 1 AF
NOVEMBER = 12 drinks = 4 AF
Looks like I'm doing well but not an excuse to just blow it all in a single evening. Trying to think of a strategy for our wine and cheese party. Probably going to go back to my old work habit when entertaining customers ... wine, water, wine, water
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@dawnbgethealthy no skating lately? This week we are getting an arctic blast in the Northeast (probably like Spring time weather for you guys up in Canada).
Sure now that I dug out my snowshoes and look at them everyday, sitting, not being used. Snow is to icy, not enough powder.
Everything melted here a few weeks ago.
We have just come into a cold snap that is to last a week, so hopefully everything will freeze up again.
No snow : - (
I wish that we had the snow like y'all are getting over there.
I do have a job up in Kimberley tomorrow, so I will skate the 1-hour public skating at the arena before or after that while there. I think that my guitar player and his friend (who live up there) will join, so that will be fun.5 -
Hi
I originally decided to drink less to lose weight.
I have been on this thread since Nov 28.18
Thank you to @MissMay for keeping us going.
I am going to post with my usual diary style to keep track of my AF days.
I will be keeping to my usual goal of 16-20 AF days per month. It is manageable for me and doesn't put too much pressure on me. So far I have been able to keep with it. One month I raised the goal and failed miserably, so I learned from that. I think this is my sweet spot.
Monday Feb 01 - AF - Had to at least start the month with an AF day to set the tone for myself.
Tuesday Feb 02 - Drinks. I used to always designate Tuesdays as my "drinks" day, because it is a very long work day paying very little. I worked to get away from that behaviour and was successful many times. My willpower didn't hold out tonight. I want to only have drinks NOT to relieve stress. I just stumbled a little.
Wednesday Feb 03 - AF - Planned AF
Thursday Feb 04 - AF - Because I needed 2 in a row. Planned drinks with my bubble friend tomorrow, but we'll see.
Friday Feb 05 - Drinks
Saturday Feb 06 - AF - Going to get at least 2 in a row or more.
Sunday Feb 07 - Drinks - Superbowl naughty food and drinks.
Monday Feb 08 - AF - Going to try to string together a few
Tuesday Feb 09 - AF - It was tough not to have a drink after work today, had to power through
Wednesday Feb 10 - AF - Driving up a mountain tomorrow, so want to be alert. I might have a couple of drinks tomorrow night, we'll see.
Rolling total 7AF days out of 10 days5 -
@Stockholm_Andy
No the reason I asked if that is where you were located is of all the diferent forums I have been a part of no one was ever from Sweden. My background is German, Irish & Swedish. Some great food in all those nationalities.
We will swap recipes with you. Swedish meatballs are delish. So if you have a secret you want to share with us as to how to make them. Bring it on.
I love how almost every American person I've met had this great picture of their background/heritage. It's not something you really see in Europe. I'm sure my daughter will see herself as half British but I'd expect my grandchildren to just see themselves as Swedes.
I did one of those DNA tests a while ago hoping to find out some exciting revelations. I'm quite dark and tan very easily so people are usually surprised to hear I'm a Brit. However, it turns out I'm 93% English, 3.6% Scandinavian, 1.8% Iberian and 1.6% Irish.
So very very English
The Viking bit I get being from the NE of England. I got a bit excited about the Iberian piece imagining some swarthy Spanish Pirate washed ashore and nursed back to health by a great great something or other. Then I looked into it and the Celts/Ancient Britons probably descended from Iberian fisherman...
So it looks like my ancestors didn't move around much or meet anyone very interesting
Anyway I digress. 5 x AF for Feb.
PS I don't have a special Meatball recipe but I'll have a think about one I can share as its a fun idea.6 -
Day 11 AF is here!!
No cravings yesterday but I was busy (freelancing teaching English online to adults). Also did a 5.5 mile run/walk in our hills, for sure that helped. And no supermarket trips for temptation.
NEWS ALERT: My husband is AF now 2 full days! His choice. Happened spontaneously. He tells me this morning he just looks at it as a gain, to get a better life instead of deprivation. He was beaming yesterday when his Garmin indicated his VO2 max increased to 44, showing a physiological improvement from his normal 41.
He has been a daily 4-5 beer drinker and at least half of the beers are double-IPAs. Weekends, when he works in yard or garage, the total can double. Between us all, at his age if he kept this up, I would lose him early and that is a real fear. So happy he's doing this - on his own, his way.
I can't believe he is having no symptoms or cravings or anything! He tells me he does not allow himself to think of this as a deprivation, but a gain.8 -
21 days AF. i know if covid wasn't going on i'd be in a different predicament altogether. happy thursday everyone 9
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@Tesha231 maybe my husband was inspired by your posts? I would agree with you that we are gaining everything by drinking less. Our brains are wired to not like any deprivation so why not focus 100% on the benefit?
@CryingBlue perfect plan, to get up fast and get back towards following your goals......rooting for you....
@CMB44512 AHA your recipe looks like mine BUT I am missing the celery salt and I brown the meat. I will try yours next. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Side note about nationalities: I find it funny if you go to Europe and someone asks you, what nationality you are, an American won't say "American". I would say "Euro-Mix", which for me is Iberian/German/French/Irish/Sardinian, according to my gene test. The reply I get is "no, impossible for you to be European, if you were born in the US, you are "American".....LOL6 -
Had a friend over for dinner (Indian! yum!), and had two full glasses of wine. OMG did I feel it. No micro sips, it went down way too easily. Of course didn’t sleep well last night and my weight was up this morning. Will be AF tonight for sure.
I am so thankful that my tolerence has dropped significantly from what I used to be able to consume. After one or two sips now I can feel my scalp starting to get tingly. That is a sure sign I do not need any more. Sort of like a built in alcohol alarm. I will be using yourvmicro-sips technique Sunday for my glass of champagne at dinner.5 -
@dawnbgethealthy I watched a youtube show on Kimberly BC last night, they were showing mountain bikers on trails. Pretty place I hope to see with you when I get there! IF I get fully vaccinated by June and the borders open, I will be there, but vaccine rollout is at a standstill here. Alternative is Fall (or whenever the fire season and heat ends and the lower trails don't yet have snow).
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lisamestiza2021 wrote: »21 days AF. i know if covid wasn't going on i'd be in a different predicament altogether. happy thursday everyone
My thoughts exactly. I feel if the bars and social events were still going heavy I would have a lot more alcohol days during all this. Love all your fresh profile pics you put up. The one last week with the purple head wrap was so vibrant and beautiful.
21 days strong for you!7 -
globalhiker wrote: »Day 11 AF is here!!
No cravings yesterday but I was busy (freelancing teaching English online to adults). Also did a 5.5 mile run/walk in our hills, for sure that helped. And no supermarket trips for temptation.
NEWS ALERT: My husband is AF now 2 full days! His choice. Happened spontaneously. He tells me this morning he just looks at it as a gain, to get a better life instead of deprivation. He was beaming yesterday when his Garmin indicated his VO2 max increased to 44, showing a physiological improvement from his normal 41.
He has been a daily 4-5 beer drinker and at least half of the beers are double-IPAs. Weekends, when he works in yard or garage, the total can double. Between us all, at his age if he kept this up, I would lose him early and that is a real fear. So happy he's doing this - on his own, his way.
I can't believe he is having no symptoms or cravings or anything! He tells me he does not allow himself to think of this as a deprivation, but a gain.
That is a wonderful gift to you both that he has decided to go AF and is embracing it so well. No, you do not want to lose him. I am still in awe of your running skills in the hills.6 -
I've been AF for almost a month now and going strong. Finally starting to sleep better. 9
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@lilylady3k wine WATER wine WATER is a smart way to approach your event this weekend.
Loved your comparison from previous months.
Here are my previous February tallies from different years -
🤤2017 & before - 120 drinks🤤
2018 - 22 drinks
2019 - 27 drinks
2020 - 05 drinks
2021 - predicted 04 - 06 drinks7 -
.
Opps posted in error
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thehumanpickle wrote: »I've been AF for almost a month now and going strong. Finally starting to sleep better.
Awesome job on almost a full month AF. Your body is adjusting. Glad your sleep is improving.7
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